Lesley Gray, mentored by Jill Dawson, publishes her first novel, The King’s Jockey, published by Solis Press. Lesley writes in the acknowledgements: ‘Jill Dawson and the brilliant Gold Dust programme put me on track with my first draft’ – ‘thank you, I don’t think I could have got this far without you.’ Continue reading…
Jane Willis won the Tony Lothian Prize for a first time biographer. Well done to Jane and her mentor Sally Cline. Continue reading…
For the second year in a row, distinguished biographer Sally Cline has helped a writer she mentored to reach the shortlist of the prestigious Tony Lothian prize, for first time biographers, organised by the Biographers’ Club. Recent Gold Dust graduate Jane Willis’s proposed biography, Marguerite, Byron and the Literary Factory, focuses on the life and… Continue reading…
Rosie Rowell, mentored by Sally Cline, has been offered a two-book deal for her novel Leopold Blue. The publisher is Hot Key Books, an inprint of Bonnier Publshing. Rosie, speaking of her mentor Sal, wrote: ‘Thank you again for all your energy and advice that went into our sessions and that made the book so… Continue reading…
A Gold Dust graduate, Jacqui Haskell has won the July Telegraph Short Story club competition. Jacqui, who was mentored by Jill Dawson and taught by Jill on an Arvon course, has also had success in the Cinnamon Press anthology Jericho with her story High, and was long-listed for this year’s Virginia Warbey Poetry Prize and… Continue reading…
Jane Rusbridge, one of the first Gold Dust graduates (mentored by Kathryn Heyman) has a new novel out which is gathering great reviews: Rook, published by Bloomsbury, Summer 2012. Continue reading…
Joanna Parry-Gokce, mentored by Gold Dust mentor Jill Dawson and taught by Louise Doughty at the Faber Academy, was recently runner-up in the Luke Bitmead/ Legend Press novel competition which offers a bursary and publication by Legend Press to first-time novelists. Continue reading…
Martha Lea was taught by two Gold Dust mentors, Kathryn Heyman and Jill Dawson this summer on an a residential course. She has been taken on by agent Peter Straus and already received an offer from Canongate for her novel. She writes to thank both tutors for their encouragement: ‘Dear Kathryn and Jill, I just… Continue reading…
Charlotte Macleod, mentored by Louise Doughty has been short-listed for The 2010 Westminster Prize at the Soho Theatre for her play Falling. She also won a place on the The Jerwood/Arvon Scheme 2011. She has been commissioned by David Hunter at Radio 4, for her afternoon play The Womb-Whisperer. To be broadcast 2012 Her first… Continue reading…
Ed Siegle, mentored by Kathryn Heyman, has just had his first novel Invisibles published by Myriad Editions. Says Ed, ‘Kathryn undertook to mentor me through the first 25,000 words of Invisibles, and her input into the early stages of the novel was invaluable to its development. Her intuition for character and guidance regarding structure helped… Continue reading…
